An aseptic wound is one kept free from environmental pathogens.

A pathogen-free wound prevents infection from occurring, ensuring proper healing and minimizing scarring in certain types of wounds. Prevention/Solution To prevent pathogens from entering a wound under treatment, wear nonpermeable surgical gloves. Wearing gloves also provides protection from blood-borne pathogens. Treatment Wounds must be cleaned thoroughly prior to bandaging. Depending on the severity of the wound, professional medical attention may be needed. Bandages Bandages used on any wound must be sterile. Sterile bandages are individually wrapped and intended for one-time use. Effects Utilizing sterile bandages aids in maintaining an aseptic wound. Any wound free from infection will heal properly and prevent intensified discomfort to the victim. Warning Change bandages regularly. Should unusual discharge begin to appear on a wound, seek medical attention immediately. Wounds include cuts, scrapes, scratches and punctured skin. They often occur as a result of an accident or injury, but surgical incisions, sutures, and stitches also cause wounds. Minor wounds usually aren't serious, but even cuts and scrapes require care. To avoid infection and aid healing Apply pressure with a clean cloth to stop bleeding Clean the wound with water Use an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection Bandage the wound if it's in an area that might get dirty Watch for swelling and redness Get a tetanus booster if you are due for one Serious and infected wounds require medical attention. You should also seek attention if the wound is deep, if you cannot close it yourself, if you cannot stop the bleeding or get the dirt out, or if it does not heal. A septic wound is an infected injury that can develop on any part of the body; it takes a longer time to heal than a normal wound. Any wound resulting from a cut, bite, burn, or lesion, can get infected when not treated well, hence becoming septic. Some common symptoms of septic wounds include, releasing of pus, excessive bleeding and constant inflammation. Some septic wounds on limbs can be a reason for amputation, in order to prevent further infection of the whole limb. Moreover, the pain, incapacitation and odor from a septic wound can cause great discomfort to the victim. It might not be convenient for one to see a doctor everyday to clean, treat and dress a septic wound; thus the need to know how to take care of it. Here is how to treat a septic wound. How to clean a septic wound If a wound is already infected, it is essential to make sure that the infection does not spread to the rest of

the body because this can lead to infection of other vital body parts; hence endangering life. You need a wash cloth, cotton balls, 2 cups of warm water, salt and an antiseptic. Add about one teaspoon of table salt in the water and stir to dissolve, then wet the wash cloth with the salty water and wring excess water. Use the wash cloth to clean around the septic wound, and if you have a scab forming on the wound, be careful not to remove it because this could deepen the wound. Clean any pus and blood, applying very little pressure on top of the scab to squeeze out accumulated pus. Salty water kills the microorganisms on the wound, and also keeps it dry. After thoroughly cleaning the wound, use a cotton ball to apply an antiseptic, like rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide on top of the septic wound and allow for absorption. How to dress a septic wound If there were no pathogens floating around in the air, it would be preferable not to dress a septic wound to allow for aeration and faster healing. You also need to cover a septic wound so that blood and pus from the injury do not stain your clothing. To dress a septic wound you need a gauge cotton dresser, cotton and some antibiotic. Add a generous amount of liquid antibiotic on a cotton ball and place it on top of the septic wound, then loosely but securely wrap the cotton gauge dresser around it. Secure it with a dresser pin or two to three band aids. Some precautionary measures when treating a septic wound Change the dressing on the wound every day to avoid further infection of the wound. Over time the dressing collects bacteria that can infect and deepen the wound. Odor from the septic wound is a sign that it needs changing. Visit a doctor or healthcare provider if you realize that a wound is taking longer that expected to heal. Some septic wounds are symptoms of some conditions like diabetes, so visiting a doctor can help you combat the problem before it worsens. Some people have had their limbs amputated due to infection of minor wounds like scratches. Visiting a healthcare provider is also necessary so you can get better treatment for the wound. Knowing how to treat a septic wound can save one a lot of money, and even speed up the healing process of the wound. Debridement is the removal of necrotic tissue, exudate, and metabolic waste from a wound. Accumulation of necrotic tissue results from a poor blood supply at the wound site or from increased interstitial pressure, a typical scenario in patients with pressure ulcers. Exudate usually results from infection. Staphylococcus aureus, for example, is known to produce a fibrin-rich biofilm that is resistant to the body's natural immune response to foreign bodies.